2014 Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI priced from $20,895

Volkswagen says the 2014 Passat has a starting price of $20,895 in the United States and will be offered with a new 4-cylinder, 1.8-liter TSI turbocharged gasoline engine delivering 170 bhp (127 kW) and a maximum torque of 184 lb-ft (249 Nm). The car will do 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 7.5 seconds or in 7.9 seconds if you opt for the six-speed automatic transmission. Compared to the previous version fitted with a 5-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine, the 2014 Passat is 0.7s quicker with the manual and 0.8 seconds with the automatic gearbox. It’s also more economical as the car returns 24 mpg city and 35 mpg hwy with the manual.

The same power unit will find its way inside the Beetle for the 2014 model year which will go on sale shortly. As a consequence, most of VW’s models sold in the United States will have these direct-injection turbocharged motors offered in gasoline and diesel forms.